Ponder with me today the words of Isaiah the Prophet, Chapter 35:

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:1-10 (NIV)

I don’t know what is going on in your life today, but whatever it is, Isaiah 35 offers a promise you need. I’m certain of it.

Why? Because these words are not just some dusty ancient things, they are the living words of our living God, recorded so they might encourage and nourish your spirit today.

In my Bible, this chapter is subtitled, Joy of the Redeemed. If you are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, there is a TODAY promise in here for you.

I invite you to read it again, and find your promise, Beloved.

If you have trouble finding it, read it with these keys in mind:

God created man from the dust of the earth, so how the land is blessed by the Lord showing up, is how you can expect your own heart and life to experience Him.

This entire passage describes what changes when you draw near the Lord and He draws near you. Things change. Dry places are watered. The wilderness that feels uncomfortable or fraught with hidden dangers becomes a safe and fruitful place.

When you draw near the Lord and He draws near you, things get healed. Things that overwhelm and make you fearful become like balloons with the air let out of them — flying around backwards, madly, before falling to the ground. Refreshing waters flow to renew the dry places. A garden grows.

Finally, Zion is how the Spirit ultimately refers to the city of God whose only citizens are the redeemed. That is YOU. No matter what your earthly address is, if you belong to Christ, Zion is your eternal address

Dear Redeemed One, whatever is going on, step towards your Joy, and He will step towards you.